Apparatus and method for cementing wells



Dec. 3, 1940. E. v. cRCwELl.

APPARATUS lAND METHOD FOR CEMENTING WELLS 3... S., aix.. A. e MJMWMM Filed Aug. 14, 1939 INVENTOR f4 12 Ee@ leon/21. BY a ATTORNEY.

around a casing Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT .OFFICE 2,223,442 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CEMENTING WELLS Erd V. Crowell, Glendale, Calif. Application August 14, 1939, Serial No. 290,010

14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and methodsfor cementing wells, and more specifically contemplates the placement of c ementitious material in the annular area of the Well shaft string by pumping the cement surface downwardly through the through a tubing string within the for ejection through lateral ports located in the casing at one or more levels.

The present application is acontinuationin part of my copending application, Serial No.

from the well casing and/or casing string 119,986, led January 11, 1937, which matured as Patent No. 2,177,172, dated October 24, 1939, and application Serial No. 645,656, filed December 5, l932, the latter application having matured as Patent No. 2,071,389, dated February 23, 1937. Other subject-matter hereof has been disclosed in my application Serial No. 436,434, filed March 17,1930, which matured as Patent No. 1,896,482, on February 7, 1933.

It is a general to provide method any apparatus for locating a quanti y of cement in the annular area surrounding a string of casing or pipe in a well hole which involves the successive ejection of separate volumes of cement from selectively opened ports in the casing or pipe.y

Another object is to provide as an improvement over my above-noted Patent No.'1,896,482 a method and means for pumping iiuent cementitious material' downwardly through tubing disposed in a well casing having 'a plurality of cementing valves carried in longitudinal spaced relation by the casing.

A more specific object is to provide in a ported casing string, apparatus including a barrier actuatedA by fluid pressure to close the bore of the l'casing below a pair of longitudinally spaced ports at which cement is to be serially ejected, and a second barrier actuated by a tubing string for closingthe bore of the casing intermediate the ports.

It is a further object to provide a string of casing disposed in a well shaft with a plurality of cementing sections carried in longitudinal spaced relation and means and methods of cementing the same at each. of said cementing sections to provide a high column of cement about the casing while maintaining drilling fluid of a known specic gravity and a fixed temperature within the casing.

Another object is to -provide a pair of casing barriers movable by iluid pressure and lowered by `a tubing string, respectively, each adapted to close the bore of the casing to a separate volume object of the present invention l located and illustrating of cement, following each plug, to be ejected intothe well bore at a predetermined level.

Another object is :to provide a tubular member for lowering barriers into a casing string adapted to retain a column of fluid in its bore, through 5 which tubular member separate volumes of iluent cement may be successively pumped from the well surface for ejection into the casing at spaced points under pressure and thence through ports in thecasing into the well bore at diiferent levels. l0

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method whereby cement is discharged at one level by the pressure of a column of hydraulic fluid filling the entire length of the casing string above the cement. and thereafter closing the bore 15 of the casing immediately below a selected higher level by means associated with a string of tubing while retaining said hydraulic iluid in the casing and, subsequently. pumping a second and separate charge of cement downwardly through the tubing to said selected level and from the casing into the same bore the first charge of cement is ejected into. A It is a further object to provide a combination of what is commonly known as the casing method and tubing method of cementing, whereby the lowermost cementingoperation is accomplished by pumping the cement directly through the casing and the successive -upward cementing operations are accomplished by pumping the cement 30 through tubing.

which it is to be discharged;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view oi a string of casing similar to Fig. l, with the rst charge of cement in position where it will be allowed'to set, and with means for opening -the 45 second set of ports being lowered'in the casing; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the ,casing in which one of the upper set of ports is the position of the apparatus during the ejection of a cement volume through the ports Fig. 4 is a sectional view oi' an level of the casing string depicting paratus and method for controlling of cement laterallyof the casing:

upper ported modiiied apthe ejection Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 3 of a cementing section and casing barrier mounted against longitudinal movement therein.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, I0 designates a casing string incorporating a plurality of cementing sections II arranged in spaced relation intermediate the ends of the casing string. Each cementing section II is provided with a series of lateral ports I2 for the ejection of a volume of cement. A casing shoe I3 is threaded to the lower end of the casing string in which also are located a series of lateral ports i2. The portion of the bore of the shoe i3 and of each cementing section I I in which the ports I2 thereof are located is recessed as indicated by the numeral Ill. A is slidably disposed in the recess I4 of each cementing section and in the recess of the shoe so as not to restrict the bore of the casing string and thereby permit normal drilling operations to be carried on through the casing prior -to cementing; i. e., the drill stem (not shown) may be lowered through a casing equipped with the cementing sections and sleeve valve assemblies of the present invention and may be actuated to deepen the well without interference by the sleeve valves I5 or injury to the latter. Each sleeve valve I5 is normally retained against an annular shoulder I6 forming the upper end of each recess I4, in a position'closing the adjacent ports I2, by helical spring I1 which in tur'n is seated on an annular shoulder I8 forming the lower end of each recess. At each port in the string the exterior of the shoe I3 and the respective cementing sections Il are recessed as at I9, for the normal disposition of a spring valve 20 secured to the shoe or casing section by a rivet or the like. opened `by fluid pressure from within the casing after the sleeve valve I5 controlling them has been displaced, but will close to the-pressure of iuid in the oppositepdirection.

The diameter of the bore of each casing section is slightly less than the diameter of the upper portion of the bores of the cementing sections and shoe to form a downwardly directed shoulder 2l in each casing section and in the shoe for a purpose about to be described. The diameter of the bore of each sleeve valve I5 is substantially the same as the casing sections whereby a recess 22 is provided in shoe I3 and in each cementing section II between the sleeve valve I5 and shoulder.2I. The recesses 22 are of unequal length, the recess 22 in the bore of the shoe being greater than those in the cementing sections thereabove, and the length of each recess of the respective cementing sections from the lowermost thereof lto the top of the casing being shorter in upward succession. In accordance with the method of my invention as is hereinafter more in detail described, the ports I2 of the shoe and of each cementing section in upward series may be opened to pressure within the casing by displacing the sleeve valve I5 therefrom. For purposes oi displacing the sleeve valve I5 from the ports I2 of shoe I3, I provide a barrier plug 23 to be lowered through the casing and intovthe bore of the shoe, comprising a body of' slightly smaller diameter than the casing bore but carrying a packer 24 adjacent its lower end for-ming a fluid tight fit with the casing. Above packer 24 vthe plug 23 is annularly recessed as at 25. in which recess is located a pair of arcuate slips 26 supported on .the plug by bowed springs 21 vwhich force the slips laterally against the wall of the casing as sleeve valve I5 Vsections are similar tubing string 34 is Valves 20 may be indicator plug with the shoe. Continuedis lowered therein. Slips 26 are of a ports I2 of the cementing sections II thereabove may be opened in a similar manner by barrier plugs 28 carrying slips 23 adapted to cooperatewith respective cementing sections. The barrier plugs 28 for opening the ports of the cementing to barrier plugs 23 but are each provided with a bore 30 to by-pass fluid in the casing as they are lowered therein. The bore 30 of eachplug 28 is enlarged adjacent itsupper end a's at 3i to form a valve seat 32 (Fig. 2) for a valve 33 adapted to open to pressure therebelow but to prevent the passagel of iiuid downwardly through the bore 30 of the plug. The length of the slips 26 and 29 of each barrier plug 23 and 28, respectively; is determined by the length of the recess 22 of the shoe or cementing section into which it is adapted to fit, the slips of each barrier plug being of greater length than sufficient to t into the recesses of the cementing sections II above the shoe or the section with which it is intended to cooperate. A tubing string 3d is'employed to move each barrier plug 28 downwardly through the casing to its respective cooperating cementing section II. The bore of large enough to encircle the the bore 3I of the plug wherefiuid by-passed bythe plug operation will flow into enlarged portion of by .a portion of the during the lowering tubing string 34. r Y

An embodiment of a method of my invention utilizing the particular apparatus hereinabove referred to is brley described as follows: The casing string III incorporating the ported shoe I3 and cementing sections II in spaced relation is lowered into the well shaft while mud fluid is circulated downwardly through the casing and shoe and thence upwardly through the' annular area of the hole4 to the well surface. With the casing suspended from the bottom of the well hole, circulation is continued until. it is determined that all debris tending to clog the annular area around the casing isremoved. If the operator desires to cement through the ports, in .the shoe, barrier plug 23 is then inserted into the casing. A quantity of cement in an amount sufcient to ll the annular area of the casing from the shoe to the next higher series of ports is introduced into the casing on top of barrier plug 23. An indicator plug 35 carrying a packer 36 adapted for slidable engagement with the wall of the casing is released into the casing on top of the cement volume for a purpose later referred to. Mud fluid is then pumped into the casing under pressure to force the barrier plug and the cement volume therebetween downwardly toward the shoe. The slips of the barrier plug will remain retracted during the movement through the various cementing sections, there being no recess in the casing string-above the shoe of a length suilicient to receive ythe slips 26 of the plug. Upon reaching the shoe I3, slips 23 will expand into recess 22 above sleeve I5 and continued pressure on the mud fluid will displace thesleeve from the ports the fluid thereabo've -will force the valves 20 from( permitting ther ejection of I2 of the shoe. The cement under pressure of the ports in the sh the cement into Ithe hole around the casing to ll the well shaft to the. next higher series of ports. Upon the discharge of substantially all cement from the casing, indicator plug will seat on top of barrier plug 23 with the packer 36 thereof closing the bore of the casing above around thel casing develop. If the operator desires to cement the entire bore of the well around casing I0, each of the cementing sections II may be usedin upward v succession in the following manner. A barrier plug 28, carrying slips 29' of a size adapted to be received in the recess 22 ofthe first cementing section .above shoe I3, is'released into the so as to engage the sleev valve I 5 therein and displace said valve from 5ba ports. 'I'he tubing string 34 is then preferably raised slightly from thel plug 28 (see Fig. 3). At this stage both the charge itself are tubing into the casing-wand 'immediately from the casing through the'ports/in the adjacent cementing section II into the well bore. cement thus ejected from tubing string 34 will pass upwardlyin the well shaft to fill the ann l? area of the well 4hole around the casing to t e dent to this withdrawal of the' lng wm permit thev sleeve valves I 5 of the shoeand of the casing for further development of the cementing `section II from which the second charge of cement is elected to 'After withdrawal of the tubing string 34, a third with recess22 which the ports displacement of said ports.

in, the cementing section II in to be opened are located, for the are successively `ejected from the tubing and through the op'en 25 40 easily flow into the casing without raising the tubing string from the barrier plug. It will be understood that while I have shownl and described the introduction of cement volumes cement volumes to be ejected therefrom, respectively.

The invention thus provides for cementing a well at a plurality of predetermined levels as an integral operation, or as a series of unitary cementing operations with the cement ejected at order to illl the borefi. e., if pressurerequired for cementing is Anot prohibitive; a volume of cement may be dischargedv from one level of the numerous changes in size, shape, number and proportion of the various parts may be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention as dened by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Patent is: I

1. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes lowering intovthe well a string of casing having a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a first volume of cement and a following fluid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said port, discharging said cement from the casing intotheA well bore at a substantial distance below said port by the pressure of the fluid column above it, then opening the port and closing the bore of the casing below said port while retaining the fluid column inthe casing, and pumping a second and separate volume of cement downwardly through a string of tubing to said port and outwardlyl therethrough from the casing into the same bore that said first volume of cement is discharged into, and preventing its return to the bore of the casing. 2. he method of cementing casing in a well bore which includes ejeoting cement from the casi'ng into said bore by the pressure of -a column of hydraulic fluid in the casing in back of the cement extending above a predetermined higher level at which additional cement is to be subsequently ejected, closing the bore of the casing immediately taining hydraulic iluid in the casing, and pump- Letters ing a second and separate volume of cement downwardly through a string of tubing to said level Iand from the casing into the same bore said rst volume oi cement is discharged into.

3. Theimethod of Vcementing casing in a well bore, which includes discharging cement at the lower end of the 'casing by a column of hydraulic fluid in the casing in back of the cement extending above a predetermined higher level at which additional cement is to be subsequently ejected, closing the bore of the casing immediately below said higher level by means` associated with a string of tubingwhile retaining hydraulic fluid in the casing, and separate volume of'cement downwardly through `the tubing to said level and from the casing into the same bore said iirst volume of cement is discharged into, and preventing its return to the bore of the casing. a

4.' The method of that includes lowering into a well a string of casing having a plurality of cementing sections carried in longitudinal spaced relation by said casing, each of said .cementing sections including an outer ported member andan inner sleeve valvel closing the ports, introducing and pumping a first volume of cement and a following huid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said cementing sections, discharging said-cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said cementing sections by the pressure of the uid column above it, then as successive integral operations at each of said cementing sections, opening the ports and closing the bore of the casing below the ports by means associated with a tubing string',` and pumping a volume of cement downwardly through said tubing string tosaid opened ports-and outwardly therethrough from the casing into thel same bore that said first volume is discharged into.

below said higher level while-rethen pumping a second and cementing casing in a well,

' to successively lower 5. The method of cementing casing in a well bore comprising the steps of: progressively opening in upward series a pair of longitudinally spaced normally closed ports in the casing, pumping a volume of fluent cement through the lower 5 port by a column of fluid in the casing extending to the well surface, pumping a second volume of cement from the well surface and through said upper port while maintaining a portion of said fluid column above the upper port in the casing. 10

6. The method of cementing casing in a well bore comprising the steps of: lowering a barrier through.l a column of fluid standing in a ported casing, mounting said barrier in a zone in the casing directly below a lateral port in the casing l5 through which cement is to' be ejected, and conducting a volume of cement through the'casing to said port while retaining a portion of said fluid column in the casing above said port.

'1. The method of cementing casing in a well 20 bore comprising the steps of: pumping a volume, of fluent cement from the casing by a huid column extending to the well surface, moving a casing barrier through the casing to a position above the point of ejection of the first volume of 25 cement and below a level Yat which a second volume of cement is to be ejected, and discharging the second volume of cement into thel casing intermediate the ends of said iiuid column and from the casing.

8. The method of cementing casing. in a well bore comprising the steps of: pumping a quantity of fluent cement into a string of casing and ejecting said cement from the casing by a column of fluid in the casing extending to the well surface, closing the bore of the casing intermediate the ends thereof and below a series of ports theresecond `volume of cement into the casing at said ports and intermediate the ends of said fluid column and ejecting said cement in, discharging a from the casing through said ports by means including the weight of a portion ofv said iiuid column. l

9. In apparatus for cementing a well casing, a casing string having a pair of longitudinal spaced relation, means comprising fluid under pressure to open one of said ports, a tubing string having a casing barrier associated therewith to close the bore of the casing above the open port, and 'means comprising fluid under 50/ pressure to move a charge of cement through the tubing and into the casing above said barrier.

*10J In apparatus for cementing' a well casing, a casing string provided with a pair of spaced ported cementing sections, riers and a tubing string to successively position said barriers in the casing immediately below respective cementing sections, and means comprising iiuid under pressure to eject a separate 'chargeof cement from the tubing string intov the 60 casing at eachpof said sections and above said barriers, respectively.

1,1. In appartus for cementing a well casing, a

,casing incorporating a pair of ported cementing y sections spaced apart longitudinally of the casing, 65

means in each of said sections -to normally maintain the ports in said sectiom closed, a pair of casing barriersmes comprising a tubing string said barriers and open the ports'v in said sections, and means (comprising 1fluid under pressure to eject separate quantities of cement from said tubing into said cementing sections adjacent said ports, respectively.

12. In apparatus for cementing a well casing, a casing string provided with a pair of ported ce- 'I5 ports arranged in a pair of casing barsaid open ports while retaining a column of fluid` menting sections carried in longitudinal spaced relation by said casing, said sections each having normally closed ports therein, .means comprising acasing barrier and fluid under pressure to open ports i-n one of saidcementing sections and direct a quantity o1' cement through the opened ports, means to close said casing above in the casing extendingto the well surface, a 'sec` ond casing barrier, and means to lower said lastl named barrier through said column of iluid to close the bore of the casing immediatelybelow the uppermost of said pair of ports and conduct a volume of cement to a point adjacent said lastnamed port.

y13. The method of cementing casing in a well shaft which lncludeslowering into the well a string of casing having a plurality of cementing cessive integral operations at each of said cementing sections, closing the bore of the cementing sections by means associated with a tubing string, and pumping a volume of cement downwardly through said tubing string to the point at which the bore is closed and outwardly through said ports in the last-named sections and from the casing -into said well shaft.

14. In combination. a string of casing disposed in a well shaft provided with a cementing-section intermediate the ends of the casing, said cementing section including an outer ported member and an inner sleeve valve controlling the port adapting the casing to retain a column of hydraulic fluid in its bore. means for closing the bore of. said cementing section above and below the port to uid pressure therein at the'port, and a tubing string for conducting cementitious material downwardly to said port and intermediate said column of hydraulic uidretained in the casing.

V. CROWELL, 

